Framing Question
How can plants in their environment inspire your art and your written voice?
Learning Goal
If students observe plants in their natural environment at Forest Valley, then will have the inspiration to create a sketch that expresses their feelings and begin to establish a personal voice by expressing those feelings in their haiku.
Curriculum Connections
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/language18currb.pdf (pg. 70)
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/arts18b09curr.pdf (pg. 92)
- Creating and Presenting: apply the creative process (see pages 19–22) to produce a variety of two- and three-dimensional art works, using elements, principles, and techniques of visual arts to communicate feelings, ideas, and understandings;
- Principle of Design: variety: slight variations on a major theme; strong contrasts (e.g., use of different lines, shapes, values, and colours to create interest [bright or light colour values, dark colour values)
Possible Sequence of the Day
The framing question focuses the learning of the day. The day starts with an engagement activity to assess understanding, engage the students, and introduce the framing question. The morning is spent doing investigations, exploring and conducting inquiry in regards to plants and nature to be able to express their inspirations through visual and verbal art (sketches and poetry). The afternoon is spent writing and sketching in groups and then on their own, later to able to share their art with the class. Other forms of poetry could be used as well if already discussed with the teacher. Another option is to focus on sketching in the morning and poetry in the afternoon.
Pre and Post Activities
Trillium: Our Provincial Flower in its Natural Habitat